Illuminated statuette



May 2, 1950 J, ELvAN ET AL. 2,506,295

ILLUMINATED STATUETTE Filed June 2, 1948 INVENoRs JOHN ELA/AN BY ANTHONY MASILLO patented: Vay 2v,

ILLUMINATED STATUETTE John Elvan, New York, and Anthony Masillo,

Franklin Square, N. Y.

Application June Z, 1948, Serial No. 30,704

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an illuminated statuette.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the -construction of an illuminated statuette which is useful as a religious article and which includes a devotional object, such as a statuette of a saintly Biblical personage, but which may also be designed for use as a nitelite for a nursery in which event the statuette may be designed after a character of fiction, such as Mickey Mouse, Snow White, or any desired animal, or designedfor use as a decorative article for Christmas or other similar holidays, in which event the statuette may be patterned after Santa Claus, after an Easter rabbit or other similar holiday personage or symbol.

A feature of the invention is that the new article is a single and easily portable structure including the statuette or the like, a carrier therefor, as for instance a base to be rested on a horizontal support, and an illuminating means.

According to another feature of the invention, said illuminating means is readily variable as to its manner of illumination of the statuette or the like, as for being changed so as from time to time to highlight a particular portion of the statuette or the like, and in doing so to modify, when desired, the color of the highlighting.

An object of the invention, also, is to provide a relatively inexpensive combination, onewhich is strong and rugged throughout, yetone which is expeditiously and easily variable as above.

A further object of the invention is to provide `a. combination as just stated, and one which may -practicably be made quite smalL-particularly for 35 home use. Y

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the ap- `pended claims in which vthe various novel fea- Fig. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view 501 through the base only of the statuette.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification of the invention. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

4 Claims. (Cl. 24U-10) Fig'. v6 is a vertical section, taken substantially on the line B--G of Fig. 5, with the base and a bottom sea-ling plate therefor shown partially in side elevation and partially in section, and with the upper portion of the statuette indicated in dot and dash lines and the bottom portion thereof shown in elevation.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view, with the bottom contour ofthe statuette indicated in dot and dash lines, but omitting the top member of a cage for the light source.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of said top member.

The illuminated statuette according to the present invention, includes a base l0 upon which there is mounted a statuette Il. The statuette is preferably molded of plaster of Paris or other similar material and may be left in its natural color or may be artistically colored as desired.

On the drawing, the statuette is shown fash. ioned after the likeness of the Virgin Mary, but this is by way of illustration only, as the statuette Il could equally Well be fashioned after the likeness of Jesus Christ or some other religious personage.

The statuette could also be used as a nite-lite in which event the statuette ll could be replaced by a fictional character, such as Mickey Mouse, Snow White or any desired animal so that the illuminated statuette may be conveniently used in the nursery. Or if desired, the statuette could be designed as a decorative article for use at Christmas or on other holidays, in which event the statuette Il could be replaced by a statuette of 'Santa Claus, an Easter rabbit or other similar threadedly engage complementary threads on the inner Wall of the hollow base I0.

' The interior of the hollow base I0 is preferably filled with a non-conductive filler material I0* such as Plastic Wood, a. ceramic material or other non-conductive resinous plastic material. If desired, the removable bottom wall I2 may be omitted, but it has been found useful in providing a flat surface upon which the statuette may be conveniently rested and giving a finished' appearance to the statuette.

A small peanut-type light bulb I3, preferably of the neon-type, is secured in position through the top wall of the hollow base I0 so as to cast its light rays upon the front of the statuette Ilv when the bulb I3 is lit. An electric cord I4 is extended through an opening I5 formed in the back side Wall of the hollow base I0. The outer end of the electric cord I4 is provided with the usual plug IB for insertion into the conventional household electric current receptacle, not shown on the drawings.

Within the base I0, the electric cord I4 has its leads |48' and I4? soldered td thevprojercted contacts I1V of the light bulb I3. Soldred in position in the lead I4a there is a small resistance I8 required in view of the low voltage f the peanut-type electric bulb I3. 'Y

It is apparent that With the plug I6 inserted into an electric current outlet receptacle thatthe ,f

light bulb I3 will be lit and its rays of lightnwill light up the front of the statuette producing a -very pleasant and religious eict in a darkened room.

In the modication of the invention shown in Fgsnll -to-.8,- .the illuminated-statuette comprises astatuette 20, representative of the Virgin Mary. This `may be, molded of plaster of Paris o r of any suitable material, or otherwise made, and left White; cream or` ivory colored, or nished in one cir-more pleasingly contrasting colors, Y Y

The bottom of the statuette'20 `is secured to a suitablecarrier, here shownl as a low cylindrical base '2 I .having a flat bottom and a flat top. 'I his basepis hollow, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the base cavity contains a socket 22 for a gaseous electric bulb Y'24, preferably a rather tiny one relative to the size of the statuette 20, as indicated.

'Thevsocl;et22 will, .oi.co1lrse, beof the type to fit the base of the bulb 24, Whether'- thebulb base be of threadedbayonetjoint orother kind; The soclaet-v 22 Visiixed tothe basel ZI for suspension intothe -base cavity; with the'open top of the socket exposed by a suitable aperture through the top-wall of the baserZI: -The wiring to' thesoclfret 22'fisindicated at'25, and may vgo to a-Suitable currentfsource, A; C. or-lD.-'C;, and of'any voltage, such-*fasi afforded 'by Way of a battery'or by' Way fith-usua'l Wall receptacle in l circuit with.y a remote current source.

The-aforesaid cage for. the light source provided byt efbulbv 22 is` shown as comprising a bottom sh'e'lll-lrnember-Zdthe mainfportion of l which is cyl-indricaLand' a top shell memberflll, mainly oinprised of at conicalwalledI annular cap;

`'The-shell member` 26fhas -a major cylindrical titbular portionltyariannularhorizontal portion 29' andalshor't 'cylindricalI skirt 43.0 depending fr the outer vlimits oflsaidportionv 29. V*The Bottdi (rf/saidA portion 28 rests .on the' top. of the base 2| marginally thereoLand'theinside ofsaidski'rti30 fits loosely around thebase- 2I; s'o that th'elshell member 2G may be readily Yrotated relativeto the base 2|, for the facilitation of which adjustment the skirt 30' isfillustrated in VFig. vv4' a'sbeing externallyv knurled;

Still referring -to the shellmember 26, this, in'addition to itscylindrical tubular portion 28, includes an internal annular eave 3l shaped lilre the frustum of ,an inverted cone. This eave has threeopenings32, 33vand 34 therethrough; Along a,...portion ofthe innerA lower circular'edge 35 (Figj 8) of the eave 3|; an extended; part 36 of saideave is curled Yunderand upwardy to provide an arcuate lgrooveST opposite-the three openings 32, 33 and 34. Threepanes 38. 39,and ,4IZIva r e snapped-in place undervthegeave 3I,withveach suehprarneH covering afdifierent oneof thev opening' s 32, 33 and 34. Y'Iheserpanes are ofdifferent colorsfas, for instance, red, yellow-andblum,

ltivetotlfieshell member 21. To facilitate turnrig 'of die' iiember 21 its skirt 42 is illustrated in lFigAsas being fexte'rnally knurled.

VTheleave 4I of the shell member 21 has a single opening .43, vd,es iraloly of the same shape as each ofthe openings 32, 33 and 34.

With'the bulb 24 energized, a particular color for the light rays to illlminate the statuette 20 may bef-seleotedby angular ;adjustment of the shell memberd'lfontheshell member 26, that ispto Jaligngthe opening 43 withany one of the openings .32,33 and r34 and by'turrring the shell member-F23 'onvthe basel I these light -rays may be discharged in a'selected'vdirection to highlight partiuiar. parteith'e statuette. Certain seasons of: the liturgicalffcalendar are. penitentia'l, others.- joyou's, and: `others 4ofy 4grievous import; so that; fori-these;respecively; the red,.the yellow andthebluerpanesll, `39"and4 40 'of the shell member 2E 'Wo'uld approximately I'be interposed between thev bulb24 and-'the opening 43 of the shell member 2 1. Fory obtaining maximum' illumination from/fa-.tiny bulb, the interior of the shell 26 may be painted 'whitebri'ghtlyrpolished, or otherwise suitably tie'atediior high light reliective power.

The bottom ofthe base2I `is desirably sealed, in any-suitable Way;I-theclosure'thereof being infthepresent' case shown asianc'complishecl Yby use-Sofia sealing platef-'Mihaving a reduced Vupper c'ylin'drica'll portion externally threadedfto match an internal .thread at the loWer-p'rton of the base cavity. Y e l While we have' illustrated and 'described the preferred *embodnieritslldf' o'ur invention, it is to be Aunder'st'vo'odthat we donoft limit ourselves to' the/.precisie c'o'structions' herein disclosed and the'right'lis reserved'tdallchaiiges and` modificatinscoming fivvithin'thesfcdpe lo'f the inventionas dennedmtnezappndedf'lairs. I

frire-vin merdes-erlassen invention; what We claim a I newwand desi-reL to Vsecure by United States 'BttesfPatent -i's 1.` An article of the class described, comprisluga-statuette; afsupsdt6nwhfch-said 'statuette isfnszes; aff-electric 'itu-1H @said supertlad positin'ndi'powi11umiate salu statuette means for' supplying enereizingzeurrn to: saidrfelb, yand means'iinevablefrelative toilsaidlbulb ior highlighting anyrse'reeted une O'fvvanbus fp'rtions of said statuette.

2:.f-An article,- ofA the class" described; comprising a statuette, a supportizonvwhichsaidstatuette is fixed, an electric bulb' Ioni said -f' support and positioned lto:illuminatesaidstatuette means for supplying energizing current"` to' 'said bulb," means movable relative to said bulbffr .higmighting' lany selected fone.' of.' variousrfportions. of said' statuette, and movablefineansrinterposedbetweensaid bulb andfsaidpsttuette; said movableumeans' selectively exposing-ai plurality Uf1clored filters' totheli'ght rays emanating romfsaid `'bulbiand to said statuette.

transmitted 3. An article of the class described, comprising a statuette, a support on which said statuette is iixed, an electric bulb on said support and positioned to illuminate said statuette, and means for supplying energizing current to said bulb, there also being means movable relative to said bulb for highlighting any selected one of various portions of said statuette, said last named means including a rotatable shell having an opening therethrough so located thereon that when said shell is rotated said opening is moved through a circular path surrounding a lower portion of said statuette.

4. An article of the class described, comprising a statuette, a support on which said statuette is fixed, an electric bulb on said support and positioned to illuminate said statuette, and means for supplying energizing current to said bulb, means movable relative to said bulb for highlighting any selected one of various portions of said statuette, and movable means interposed between said bulb and said statuette for impart- 6 ing a selected one of a plurality of different colors to the light rays emanating from said bulb and transmitted to said statuette, each of the secondnamed and third-named means comprising relating rotatable shells.

JOHN ELVAN.

ANTHONY MASILLO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 15 D. 81,265 Von Frankenberg May 27, 1930 D. 81,948 Von Frankenberg Sept. 2, 1930 D. 82,008 Von Frankenberg Sept. 9, 1930 1,268,162 Scalbom June 4, 1918 1,443,106 Walsh Jan. 23, 1923 20 1,600,067 Retzl Sept. 14, 1926 1,811,723 Loewer June 23, 1931 2,325,883 Schleif Aug. 3, 1943 

